Kenya Wildlife Services goes hi-tech in protecting the wildlife

With the continuous threat of poaching to wild animals across the country especially the Rhinos, Kenya Wild Life Services have opted to go hi-tech in manning the parks to arrest the situation.

According to Senior Warden Lake Nakuru National Park John Wambua, they have turned to air patrol using an aircraft to supplement foot patrol after two rhinos were killed recently and also several attempts by poachers to kill more but rangers had managed to shot a notorious gang.

Other measures to be undertaken is use of IP Cameras to place in strategic places, CCTV cameras, camera traps Night vision goggles and increased number of rangers to man 15 blocks of the park.

“This park is a Rhino Sanctuary and also a breeding ground and currently we are having 100 individuals and also were translocation some to other parks and community conservancy for continuity.” Wambua said.

He pointed that, the poachers are cartel of people from within the parks and others from far but through community involvement, the change has been tremendous as community policing had really worked to curb poaching.

The park which has been named as Bird watchers paradise had a challenge after thousands of Flamingoes in Lake Nakuru National Park had migrated away from the area due to excessive increase of water level depleting their source of food due to flooding has been in the increase after the rain subsided.

According Wambua, the Flamingoes in the lake last year were less than 300 but currently they have increased to over 10,000 due to lack of rainfall for three months and are also flocking in due to availability of feeding material blue green algae.

The warning by meteorological department of heavy rain expected at the end of March and early April has not been taken lightly.

”The water increase had made the park impassable earlier but we raised the path way to facilitate easy movement of the tourist and also making alternative routes around the park and as we are heading to the rainy season, tourist should have confidence of easy access to wild animals at convenience.” Wambua said.

Laser flamingos had been the most affected and had migrated to Lake Baringo which is an alternative feeding ground but the situation is returning to norm in the lake and expected to hold the over 1 million flamingos which it accommodates.

He said River Njoro and other Rivers that drains into the lake was overflowing thus the rise in levels in the lake and they have turned to permanent rivers.